We have been awaiting the final report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on the reasons for the collapse of the Champlain Towers on June 24, 2021, resulting in the death of 98 individuals. The technical findings are now available on the NIST website – the link below provides access to the report and two videos detailing the report’s findings.
From the report: “The low margins against failure were primarily caused by two factors. First, severe and widespread deviations in the building’s original structural design from the codes and standards of the day, but also some limitations in those codes and standards. And second, deviations in the building’s construction from the design drawings. Loads added to the structure over its lifetime — including pool deck modifications described in a previous investigation update — further diminished the margins against failure, as did long-term degradation from corrosion.”
“Factors that the investigation has ruled out as contributing to the failure, including vibrations from nearby construction; foundation failure, sinkholes or settling; hurricane and storm surge effects; impulsive loads (e.g., weight dropped from a crane or explosion); and accidental overloads caused by a roof project underway at the time of the collapse.”
The Miami Herald had a full story on the findings: NIST findings about what caused the Surfside condo collapse | Miami Herald
Champlain Towers was the first, and only building, in the United States to collapse without explanation. We now have the technical findings as to the reasons why.
QUESTION: Did the four condo bills passed by the state legislature really address this issue? The legislators claim that the condo bills will prevent another such collapse. A bold statement to make before knowing why the building collapsed. “In true legislative fashion, this a perfect example of what happens when elected officials feel obligated to take action without knowing what the actual problem is. Ready fire aim.” And now, knowing why the building collapsed, will the four condo bills really prevent this in the future or will these bills simply destroy condo living? You decide.
